Automatic cut-off fob



(No Model.)

f R.V W. H. KOPP.

Y AUTOMATIC GIT'OFP .POR GfAs.4 No. 289,274; A

'Patented Nov. 27,' 138s;

' UNTTE STATES l PATENT armen.

' ROBERT IV. H. KOPP, OF VASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

noTOMATle cur-OFF FOR GAS.

,SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 289,274, dated November '27, 1883. Application led March 24, 1883. (No model.)

To all 1071.011?, it may concern:

Be it known that I. ROBERT W. II. KOPP, of Vashington, in the District of Columbia, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Automatic Cut-Offs for Gas; and I do here` by declare that the following is a full, clear. andexact description of the same.

My invention .is a device for automatically shutting off the gas from a building in case of fire. Great danger arises, as is well known, in

`case of res in buildings where gas is used 'from the melting of the connection between the supply-pipe and the meter, which is usually of lead, and the consequent escape of gas from the pipes during the burning.` The gas adds to the iia'me and increases the diiliculty in extinguishing the fire, in addition to the loss of the gas. In order to remedy this difficulty, the gas must be shut off at the supplypipe, as the heat increases, by some automatic action, before the heat has had time to melt the lead pipe which connects the supply-pipe with the meter.

To accomplish this, my invention consists of a chamber located in the pipe, preferably near the wall and outside the meter, with a valve hinged within said chamber, and having retaining devices adapted to hold it open until a given degree of heat somewhat aboveythe highest summer temperature at that point is reached, and at such adegree of heat to release the valve and 'allow it to close upon its seat and shut off the flow of gas.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l shows a section through the chamber or valve and a part of the pipe. Fig. 2 shows a plan view of the valve, the chamber being broken away for that purpose. Fig. 3 shows a section, like Fig. l, with a modiiication of the devices for automatically moving the valve.

Fig. 4 shows another and similar section andanother modification.

In these iigures, A represents the chamber inwhich the valve is located. It is provided with a stem, a, for connection with the gaspipe leading from the street. On the opposite end is a short pipe, b, projecting into the chamber and having an inclined end. The outer end is iitted for connection with the pipe leading to the meter. The 'valve c is hinged at its upper edge, and is adapted to fit closely over the inclined end of the pipe b. In order to hold the valve in a raised position, I 4provide a stop-bar, d, Figs. l and 2. This stopbar has a tail-piece, c, which rests against the wall of the case, and tends to prevent the front end of the bar from dropping below a horizontal position. The front end of the `bar is notched and receives the edge of the valve, supporting it upon a very slight lap.` It will be understood, therefore, that so long as the rear endV of the lever d, with its tail-piece, overbalances the weight of its front end and the valve the valve will be supported. In order to change by means ofthe heat, the rel ative weight, I place upon the lever and top of the valve small hollow stems or tubes f g, having bulbs at each end. These are partially filled with quicksilver, this being placed in the bulb 2 ofthe stem g, and in the bulb 3 of 7O the stem f. Vith the quicksilver thus placed, the bulbs and stems being made air-tight after the quicksilver is in place, the stems are attached in the position shown upon their respective places, the weight being nicely adjusted, so that the bar will hold up the valve with the quicksilver in the position indicated. W'hen, however, heat is applied to the case, the quicksilver will be driven from the bulbs 2 and 3 toward the bulbs 1 and 4, thus throwing the greater weight to the outer edge of the valve and rear end of the lever d. The adjustment is such that this change in the position of the quicksilver will overbalance the tail-piece of the lever and cause the valve to drop, and the valve will then close upon its seat and be held by its own weight, assisted by the pressure of the gas behind it.

Instead of using the bar d, I may locate the quicksilver-tubes as shown in Fig. 3, in which the bulb 5 contains the Quicksilver, the air beingin the other bulb, 6. The stem or tube is fixed upon the valve with the bulb 5 extending over upon the solid part of the pipe, the weight of the quicksilver in the bulb 5 being sufficient to counterbalance the weight of the valve and hold it open; but when the quicksilver is driven by the heat from the bulb 5 toward or into the bulb 6, the counterbalance will be destroyed, and the valve will close and IOO be held in place'by its own weight and the weight of the quicksilver in the bulb 6 and by the pressure of the gas.

Instead of using Quicksilver and tubes, I may make the fastening device as shown in Fig. 4. In this the valve is held up by a fusible hook, 71,. rI`his is attached to the valve, and connects the valve with a small staple in the interior of the case A. It may be made fusible at a 10W temperature, and when it is heated it parts and allows the valve to drop, the valve closing upon its seatI and shutting off the flow of The closing` of the valve may be assisted by a spring, 7c, if desired; or the valve may be suf cieutl y weighted for that purpose.

The devices may be changed in form to a Vconsiderable extent without departing from effectually cover the opening in the pipe.

IIt will be obvousthat the case or chamber ma be made in two or :more nieces, so that easy access may be had to the interior Whenever necessary, and the parts may be screwthreaded or joined in any convenient Way.

As shown in Fig. l at I lengthen the stem a and place therein a stop-cock, m, by means of which the gas maybe shut off by hand, when v ever necessary, Without vdistu rbin g my arrangeyand dispenses With the ordinary stop-cock which is provided near every meter.

I-Iaving thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s-

1. The combination, with a gas-pipe, of a valve-chamber and valve, and a device for holding the valve hinged Within said chamber open, and means for closing it vautomatically upon increase of heat.

2. The combination of the valve-chamber and pipe b, the valve C, pivoted upon said pipe oft' its center, and provided With bulbs containing quicksilver fixed upon said valve and adapted to shift the balance under changed temperature, substantially as described.v

In combination with the chamber of a gaspipe, an automaticallyclosing valve and l pipe a, and valve m, having a stem projecting through the pipe, and adapted to be turned from the outside.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ROBERT W. H. iiorr.

XVitvuesses:

F. L. MIDDLETON, XVAL'rER DoNALnsoN. 

